Minority Scholarships

UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. UNCF supports education through scholarships and other programs, by supporting its 38 member colleges and universities, and by advocating for the importance of minority education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. The UNCF logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."®

Founded in 1975 as a not-for-profit, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation's preeminent Latino scholarship organization, providing the Latino community more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. During the 2007-2008 academic years, HSF awarded almost 4,100 scholarships exceeding $26.7 million. In its 33-year history, HSF has awarded in excess of 86,000 scholarships, worth more than $250 million, to Latinos attending nearly 2,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AIGCS, a non-profit organization, was established in 1969. Founders Robert L. Bennett (Wisconsin Oneida) and John C. Rainer (Taos Pueblo) created a program to assist American Indian college graduates to continue their educations at the master's, doctorate and professional degree levels. AIGC was founded to help open doors to graduate education for American Indians and to help tribes obtain the educated Indian professionals they need to become more self-sufficient and to exercise their rights to self-determination.

APIASF is based in Washington, DC, and is the country’s largest non-profit organization devoted solely to providing scholarships for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Since its formation in 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $730,000 in one-time scholarships to high school students in the United States, the Freely Associated States and the U.S. Territories who are entering college for the first time. APIASF also is the administrator of the Gates Millennium Scholars/APIA, which provides outstanding low-income Asian and Pacific Islander American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education in any discipline they choose. Supporters of APIASF include members of the general public and a wide spectrum of community and professional leaders, organizations and corporations.

The American Political Science Association Minority Fellows Program was established in 1969 in an effort to increase the number of minority scholars in Political Science. The Program is designed primarily for minority students applying to enter a doctoral program in Political Science for the first time. Awards are based on the students’ undergraduate course work, GPA, GRE scores, extracurricular activities, and recommendations from political science faculty. Twelve stipend scholars are designated each year and receive a $4,000.00 fellowship that is disbursed in two $2,000.00 payments –one at the end of the first graduate year and one at the end of the second year on the condition that students remain in good academic standing. Additional applicants who do not receive funds from the Association may be recognized and recommended for admission and financial support into graduate political science programs.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund seeks to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees by providing a wide range of scholarship aid. The Fund supports Hispanic undergraduate students at all levels including community college students and transfer students as well as graduate students. Students must be of Hispanic heritage, be American citizens or legal permanent residents. A 3.0 GPA is required and students must plan to enroll full time in a degree seeking program. Students must also apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA. The amount of the awards varies by scholarship. Successful candidates are selected on the basis of academic achievement and financial need as well as personal strengths and leadership. Students may apply to as many scholarships for which they are eligible but may receive only one HSF scholarship per academic year.

The Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, named for the late U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice, was established in 1987 to carry on Justice Marshall’s legacy of equal access to higher education by supporting outstanding students attending America’s public historically black colleges and universities. Forty seven public HBCU’s and six historically Black Law Schools participate in the program.

The average scholarship is $22,000.00 per student per semester. Scholarships are not awarded directly to students but to the Member College or university to which a student has been accepted. Applicants must be citizens of the U.S and full-time students pursuing a degree at one of the Fund’s participating institutions. Criteria for selection include a commitment to academic excellence, community service, a high school GPA of not less than 3.0, and demonstrated financial need. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded more than fifty million in scholarships to more than 6,000 students.